How Much Pregnancy Weight Should I Gain?

Pregnant women often worry that they’re gaining too little weight, which could put them at risk for complications. But no set amount of weight’s ideal for pregnant women. Instead, doctors recommend weighing yourself weekly throughout your pregnancy and adjusting your diet accordingly.

How Much Weight Should I Gain During My Pregnancy?

Pregnant women often worry that they’re eating too much or not enough. But how much weight should pregnant women gain? The answer depends on several factors, including whether you’re carrying twins or triplets, your age, and your pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI).

The average woman gains about 30 pounds during her first trimester.

If you’re worried about not gaining enough weight during your pregnancy, talk with your doctor. He or she will help you determine what’s healthy for you based on your medical history and current lifestyle.

Weight gains of 25 to 35 pounds are appropriate for individuals who have a BMI that falls in the normal weight category prior to pregnancy.

If you begin pregnancy in this BMI range, the range of weight gains is a little smaller, however, weight gain is still essential for supporting a healthy pregnancy, and providing your baby with proper nutrition: 15-20 pounds is generally recommended.

For women carrying one child, the first trimester is usually considered the period when you should expect minimal weight gain, no matter what your pre-pregnancy BMI was.

Most women will lose this weight by the end of their second trimester.

During the first trimester, expect to lose between 1 and 2 pounds per week. By the third trimester, you’ll likely see an average loss of 3 to 5 pounds per week.

Women who have gained more than 40 pounds before they get pregnant may need to lose some of it after giving birth.

If you’re carrying too much weight before you become pregnant, you might find yourself struggling with postpartum weight retention. This is when women tend to put on extra pounds after giving birth. It’s not uncommon for women to retain up to 15 percent of their pre-pregnancy body weight after having a baby.

There Are Risks For Babies In Overweight Pregnancy.

Babies born to mothers who gain too much weight are more likely to develop overweight and obese bodies in later life, have increased health problems, and are born with heart disease (especially if you also smoke).

Putting on too much weight in pregnancy may increase the risk of health problems for your baby, like being born substantially larger than average, and may lead to complications during delivery, like shoulder dystocia or premature labor.

Women who carry excess weight prior to pregnancy are at an increased risk of several complications, including gestational diabetes; hypertension disorders, such as preeclampsia; sleep apnea, and the need to have a C-section. Excess weight gain during pregnancy—particularly in the first trimester–dramatically increases the risk that you will have gestational diabetes, and develop its complications.

It is important for your baby’s health that you do not gain too much weight in the months leading up to your birth.

Gaining too much weight may cause complications throughout pregnancy, and it may make it harder for you to shed those pounds once you deliver.

Gaining too much or too little weight can cause a variety of problems during pregnancy and after delivery, so going at a sustainable rate is best.

There Are Risks For Babies In Low Weight Pregnancy.

Gaining too little weight during pregnancy, mainly if you started off low, could mean an increased risk of giving birth to a baby with low birth weight (less than 5.5 pounds).

For women who begin their pregnancies overweight by more than 50 pounds, gaining very little to no weight may reduce their risk for pregnancy complications, such as hypertension, preeclampsia, and larger babies.

Without the additional weight, it is possible that the baby will come sooner (premature delivery) or smaller than expected. Studies have shown your risk for gestational diabetes increases with these extra pounds, especially if they occur earlier in your pregnancy.

Some women gain less weight than others.

Women who carry more weight before becoming pregnant are at greater risk for gaining excessive amounts of weight after childbirth. However, there isn’t an exact number of pounds you should weigh before getting pregnant. Instead, experts recommend aiming to maintain a healthy weight throughout your pregnancy.

There’s no right or wrong amount of weight to gain.

Experts say women should try to keep their pre-pregnancy weight as close to normal as possible. If you’re overweight before trying to become pregnant, losing some weight will help reduce your chances of having a large baby.

The first step to understanding your individual weight-gain goals is determining your BMI prior to pregnancy, which will influence how much you need to put on during your pregnancy. Based on your BMI from before you got pregnant, a healthcare provider can give you advice about recommended weight gains while pregnant.

If you were underweight before becoming pregnant, it is particularly important that you gain a sufficient amount of weight throughout your pregnancy—often recommended as being between 28 and 40 pounds. And if you were within a healthy weight range before becoming pregnant, you ideally need to gain 11.5 to 16 kg over the course of a pregnancy. If you started off healthy, then you only need to gain around 1 to 4 pounds (0.5 to 1.8 kg) during the early months of pregnancy.

But if you begin your pregnancy at a healthy weight, you can expect to gain about 1 to 5 pounds during your first trimester, and about 1 pound a week during the remainder of your pregnancy. In your second and third trimesters, you should expect to gain between a half-pound and a pound a week, as long as you were at a healthy weight prior to pregnancy.

For those who are overweight or obese, this guidance results in weight gains of approximately 1/2 pound (0.2 kg) a week during their second and third trimesters.

How To Gain Weight During My Pregnancy?

Weight gain helps your baby grow and develop properly, and allows your body to make physical changes that support pregnancy, like growing your uterus, developing the placenta, and increasing your blood volume.

Gradual weight gain is just as important as the number of pounds you gain because your baby needs a constant supply of nutrients and calories to grow throughout its time in the womb. How much weight you need to gain during pregnancy will depend on your weight before pregnancy and how far along in your pregnancy you are (if you are carrying triplets, expect those scales to go up quite a bit!).

Or, if you are having consistent pregnancy cravings, you might be more likely to have more weight gain during your first trimester – in that case, keeping an eye on your weights for the next couple of trimesters will help you stay on track with overall pregnancy weight gain.

Try to remember that a little bit of weight gain is essential to a healthy pregnancy, and those extra pounds will ultimately be lost once the baby is born. Gaining a healthy amount of weight is a big part of keeping yourself and your baby healthy throughout pregnancy and beyond. You will need to gain weight in all of these areas in order to have a healthy baby and pregnancy, as well as prepare your body to nurse.

Your health care provider can help determine how much you need to gain, and will also help manage weight during your pregnancy. While pregnant, you should work closely with your doctor to ensure that your pregnancy weight is on target.

Gaining Weight Is Good For Your Baby.

Experts recommend that pregnant women gain between 25 and 35 pounds. This will help ensure that your baby has an adequate supply of nutrients and oxygen throughout his or her development. It’s also good for your own health. Research shows that obese mothers who gain more weight than recommended are at higher risk for gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, cesarean delivery, and postpartum hemorrhage.

The Best Way To Gain Weight Is By Eating More Calories Than You Burn.

If you’re trying to gain weight, you’ll need to eat more calories than you burn. That means eating more food than usual. However, there are ways to do this without adding too much fat or sugar to your diet. First, make sure you’re getting enough protein. Protein helps build muscle mass, which burns more calories than fat does. Second, try to avoid sugary foods and drinks. They contain lots of empty calories that won’t fill you up. Instead, choose whole grains, fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, and lean meats.

Don’t Overdo It!

Experts recommend that pregnant women consume between 1,200 and 1,500 calories per day. This will help ensure that you gain weight at an appropriate rate. To calculate how many calories you need each day, multiply your pre-pregnancy body weight by 13.5. Then subtract 500 calories from that number. Divide the result by 2.2 to determine your daily calorie needs.

Avoid Excessive Exercise.

If you exercise too much while you’re pregnant, you may put yourself at risk for miscarriage, premature labor, low birth weight, and other complications. In fact, exercising more than three times per week has been linked with increased risks of miscarriage and stillbirth.

Be Patient And Enjoy Your Pregnancy.

Experts recommend that women gain between 25 and 35 pounds during pregnancy. This will help ensure that your baby grows properly and that you have enough energy to care for him or her after delivery.

CONCLUSION

How much weight someone needs to gain in pregnancy and what additional calories are needed varies from one trimester to another.

Keep track of your weight, and contact your healthcare provider if you notice that you are gaining pounds way too quickly. Be sure to call your healthcare provider if you do not gain any weight in two consecutive weeks in months four through eight.

Most pregnant women gain 10 kg to 12.5 kg (22 to 26 pounds), with the majority of the weight being gained by the 20th week. Women who have a lower body mass index (below 18.5) need to make gains of between 12.5kg and 18kg during the whole pregnancy.

Although there is a recommended amount of weight gain during pregnancy for those who were overweight or obese prior to pregnancy, some studies show people who are obese may be safe to gain less than recommended by the guidelines.

Recent studies have found that only about a third (32%) of women gain the recommended amount of pregnancy weight, and the majority gain more than recommended (21% too little, 48% too much).